mayor. he is the lord mayor of london and this is the lord mayor's banquet at the guildhall in central london. this is an annual opportunity for the prime minister to lay out all sorts of things. we expect today that the prime minister will focus on uk foreign policy. as we have been discussing this is also the day in which he reappointed david cameron, former uk prime minister, to thejob david cameron, former uk prime minister, to the job as foreign secretary. we will start to get a bit more information, a bit more detail, on what another year of conservative government under rishi sunak will look like. crucial, of course, because this is set to be a general election year. the uk has to go to the polls before january 2025. the speculation of course is that it could be either in the spring, maybe in may, or in the autumn, possibly september or october for a general election. we will be keeping a close eye on what is happening there at the guildhall in central london. we will take you there as soon as it happens. let's get some more now on the situation in gaza. and particularly focus in on the aid and support given to the people still stuck in camps across the strip as the fighting continues. 143 aid trucks were able to cross into gaza via the rafah crossing on sunday — that's the highest number since fighting broke out on october 7th. so things have improved. but let's put that into context — before october 7th there were around 500 aid trucks a day entering gaza. so the situation is still dire. let's speak to william bell, head of middle east region at christian aid. thank you for being winners on the tonight. that context is important, isn't it? we might say there has been a record number of trucks able to get into gaza since the start of this conflict, but by no means does this conflict, but by no means does this match what was happening before, and that was before there was a humanitarian need such as this. . �* , �* ., was a humanitarian need such as this. . �*, �* ., . .,, this. that's right. before october the 7th, 500 _ this. that's right. before october the 7th, 500 trucks _ this. that's right. before october the 7th, 500 trucks a _ this. that's right. before october the 7th, 500 trucks a day - this. that's right. before october the 7th, 500 trucks a day were i this. that's right. before october - the 7th, 500 trucks a day were going on. now we have had about 850 since the 21st of october. don't forget that in that time, the needs have become that much more acute, because everything is now either running out or has run out. we are talking food, water, vital medicines. theyjust simply isn't enough to be able to cope with the scale of the need. until such time that there is a complete ceasefire and then complete humanitarian access to i'm afraid the suffering is only going to get worse.— i'm afraid the suffering is only going to get worse. quite clearly the focus is _ going to get worse. quite clearly the focus is on food _ going to get worse. quite clearly the focus is on food and - going to get worse. quite clearly i the focus is on food and water and medicine, and medical supplies. the focus is on food and water and medicine, and medicalsupplies. i have just looked medicine, and medicalsupplies. i havejust looked at have just looked at what you are raising funds for, to psychosocial support for staff. just explain what that entails. b, support for staff. just explain what that entails-— that entails. a lot of stuff are dee -l that entails. a lot of stuff are deeply traumatised. - that entails. a lot of stuff are deeply traumatised. we - that entails. a lot of stuff are deeply traumatised. we are i that entails. a lot of stuff are - deeply traumatised. we are working with one of our israeli partners. many of them have lost people in the conflict as well. primarily it is for those staff who are dealing 20 47 with the traumas of the people in shelters with them, who are having to deal with people who have lost loved ones. this is a really difficult time on multiple levels. we tend to think ofjust the impact of the bombing itself, but there are so many other impacts on people. you are seeing the images from the hospital at the moment, the babies. imagine the impact of the families of those babies. there is a population in gaza that is now deeply, deeply traumatised. they were really struggling before and you could really feel the impact of 16 years of blockade. no one under the age of 18 herds barely ever left the age of 18 herds barely ever left the gaza strip. the aspirations were hemmed in by this blockade. then you put this on top of that. there are so many needs for the population in gaza. now, with the level of destruction, it is really... i can't really imagine what the future is for the people who have lost so much already. for the people who have lost so much alread . . . . for the people who have lost so much alread . , ., ., , ., already. yes, and given what you have described _ already. yes, and given what you have described there, _ already. yes, and given what you have described there, and - already. yes, and given what you have described there, and the . already. yes, and given what you - have described there, and the images that we see coming out of gaza right now, we see how terrible those conditions are. i wonder, given those conditions, what help are you able to provide? in those conditions, what help are you able to provide?— able to provide? in the short term, because we — able to provide? in the short term, because we work _ able to provide? in the short term, because we work with _ able to provide? in the short term, because we work with small, - able to provide? in the short term, because we work with small, locall because we work with small, local organisations, we have been able to transfer funds. organisations, we have been able to transferfunds. that organisations, we have been able to transfer funds. that has organisations, we have been able to transferfunds. that has helped organisations, we have been able to transfer funds. that has helped some of the medical society is to provide emergency medical supplies to people who need it in home visits. it has provided shelter in some of the centres that we worked in, some of the children centres have been converted now into shelters for people who fled from the north. this is particularly in khan younis. that will be anything from mattresses to food that was available. that is now running out. the situation is now getting very desperate. there is going to be a reliance on those but unfortunately there are not nearly enough. unfortunately there are not nearly enou:h. . , unfortunately there are not nearly enou:h. ., , ., ., unfortunately there are not nearly enou:h. . , . ., i. unfortunately there are not nearly enou:h. . , ., ., ., enough. really grateful to you for bein: with enough. really grateful to you for being with us _ enough. really grateful to you for being with us tonight _ enough. really grateful to you for being with us tonight on - enough. really grateful to you for being with us tonight on the - being with us tonight on the programme, william bell, head of the middle east region christian aid. thank you very much forjoining us. it is important we talk about that aid that is finally able to get through but the image on screen in central london. that is where we are expecting the uk prime minister, rishi sunak, promising to redouble efforts to achieve a long—term political settlement to the israeli palestinian conflict. also this coming on a day that rishi sunak has reshuffled his team in the cabinet, appointed the former prime minister, david cameron, to thejob of foreign secretary, moving james cleverley to home secretary, that is after he sacked the current home secretary, suella braverman, after days of speculation about her future. as we said we are expecting the prime minister to speak. let's take you live where rishi sunak will address the lord mayors banquet. these are deeply challenging times for our world. implications for our security, our economy and our very social fabric. security, our economy and our very socialfabric. id. us to do everything we can to shape these events. and so we have delivered one of the most significant years for british foreign policy in recent times. that is due in no small part to james cleverley, and i know that he will bring the same vigour to the equally vitaljob of home secretary. and i am pleased to have appointed a new foreign secretary, who will build on everything that we have achieved in the last year. that year in which we have gone further than ever to support ukraine is the first g7 country to send tanks, the first to send long range weapons, and the first to step up on training pilots. in the last few weeks i have travelled to cyprus, jerusalem, riyadh and cairo, to respond to the crisis in the middle east. i am in constant contact with leaders across the nations. since we have gathered last here a year ago, we secured the win is a framework with the eu. launch the partnership with the us and australia, building one of the most advanced submarines that the world has ever known. signed the hiroshima accord with japan and the atlantic declaration with the united states. secured membership of the cbt pp which will drive global growth. delivered returns agreements to tackle illegal migration, an approach now being followed by many others. and brokered the first international statement on the risks of artificial intelligence, including the us and china, something many thought impossible. but these treaties and alliances speak to something deeper. our willingness to act, to shape the world, not to be shaped by it, wherever there is a challenge, wherever there is a challenge, wherever there is a challenge, wherever there is a threat, wherever we can promote peace and security. that is why we have deployed troops to kosovo, supporting stability in the balkans. 20,000 servicemen and women are on their way to protect nato's eastern flank in the high north. royal navy vessels are in the middle east to deter further escalation. and vital humanitarian aid is reaching civilians in gaza and across the horn of africa, funded by the british people. this is who we are. the difference we make every single day across the world should make each and everyone of us here tonight enormously proud of us here tonight enormously proud of what this country does. we are hard—headed about our interests and our security. hard—headed about our interests and oursecurity. but hard—headed about our interests and our security. but britain's realism has a ways had values, and this is a moment for moral clarity. my lord mayor, the past is trying to stop the future being born. what motivated hamas to launch their horrific attack on israel? it wasn't just hatred, it was also their fear that a new middle east was being born, one that would see israel normalising relations with its neighbours, which gave hope for a better, more secure, more prosperous way forward. why did russia invade ukraine? because putin feared the emergence of a modern, reforming, thriving democracy on his doorstep, and wanted to pull it back into some imperialist fancy of the past. so we must keep alive the promise of a better future, must keep alive the promise of a betterfuture, bolster must keep alive the promise of a better future, bolster those striving for it, and stand up for the innocents who rush to see as targets and hamas see as human shields. i recall those lines from yates. the blood to tide is loose. and everywhere the ceremony of innocenceis and everywhere the ceremony of innocence is drowned. the best lack all conviction while the worst are full of passionate intensity. that is what our adversaries believe. so we will out match them. with our conviction and intensity. we must and we will prove them wrong. let me set out what that means in ukraine, and how we help the most vulnerable around the world, and first in the middle east, a region whose tragedy and heartbreak hang heavy on us all. in israel i met the families of british victims. i sat with them. held their hands and saw the profound pain in their eyes. i heard the existential fear that the israelis are feeling. their country was founded to ensure that what happened in the holocaust could never happen again. hamas poses a fundamental challenge to that idea. hamas have stated clearly, we will repeat the october the 7th attack time and time again, until israel is annihilated. time and time again. last week was the 85th anniversary of kristallnacht. as we see hatred rising we have all responsibility to meet the promise of the words that lit up the brandenburg gate. never again is now. israel must be able to defend itself against terror, restore it security, and bring the hostages home. but there are many things that israel must do as part of its response. we have been clear that they must act within international law. they must take all measures to protect innocent civilians, including hospitals, stop extremist violence in the west bank, and allow more aid into gaza. mahmud bass, the president of the palestinian authority, described to be the terrible suffering of the palestinian people. too many civilians are losing their lives. that is why i have doubled our aid to gaza and while we continue to press, both at the united nations and directly with israel, for unhindered humanitarian access and urgent and substantive humanitarian pauses. we want aid coming in by land, airand sea. we pauses. we want aid coming in by land, air and sea. we are ready to use our bases in cyprus as a staging post. alleviating the suffering is our foremost priority. post. alleviating the suffering is ourforemost priority. but post. alleviating the suffering is our foremost priority. but we need to do more. we need to do more to create a new political horizon. we must unite around the only answer that can come close to creating peace in these troubled lands. the only answer that can acknowledge the history and hurt of both peoples. the only answer that can allow a new future to be born, and that is a two state solution. the united kingdom wrote the original un resolution setting this out. we have argued the case for decades. but now we must help make it a reality. so to the uk's friends across the region, like jordan, egypt, the uae and saudi arabia, who support normalisation and peaceful coexistence, and to our communities here at home, i pledged to redouble our efforts to this end. that means providing the serious, practical and enduring support needed to bolster the palestinian authority. because they are the best route to sweep away the terrible scourge of hamas and all it has wrought. as hard as it may be, no matter the obstacles, we must put the region on a path to genuine peace. we are also supporting a better future for ukraine. let me tell you this. the last year has shown that russia cannot win. they tried to blockade ukrainian shipping routes and they failed. ukraine has pushed back the black sea fleet and made crimea a vulnerability for putin rather than a strength. russia is mounting its third wave of attacks and again they continue to fail at horrendous cost. since their invasion russia has suffered over a quarter of a million casualties. half the territory they initially seized has been taken back. and putin has faced a more united response than he ever imagined. he ensured defence spending is rising across europe, led by the uk. he has fast tracked finland into nato with sweden close behind. and he has seen an armed rebellion marching on moscow. it is a self—inflicted strategic calamity. putin's vain hope is that we lose patience. but friends, we never will. instead we are providing more air defence to protect ukraine's cities and infrastructure, more help for the long hard winter, and we are going further. in february, at the munich security conference, i argued then that ukraine needs a long—term security assurance. in july allies delivered. following the nato summit over 30 other leaders joined us delivered. following the nato summit over 30 other leadersjoined us in agreeing to put those assurances in place. together we will strengthen ukraine's defence and boost the economy, so they can thrive even while they fight to regain their territory. to do so ukraine needs the city of london, it needs all of you, it needs expertise and capital, and more risk insurance to support trade and investment to keep the ships going. i know that you will deliver. and so will the government, building ukraine's navy, training their pilots and training the soldiers. we have now trained over 50,000 ukrainian troops. president zelensky and i meant to meet some earlier this year. i recall sitting on a mac to fly to the south coast. we chatted and shared photos. it was a moment of normality in an abnormal setting and a reminder of what unites us. in the face of aggression we will always protect our values and all we hold dear. we will stand with ukraine until they prevail. and finally, to deliver a betterfuture we must lead, not with our strengths, but with our compassion, helping the poorest and tackling global problems. while russia seeks to starve the world by choking off food supplies, we are helping ukraine get food to those who need it most. next week we are hosting an international conference on alleviating global hunger, while some load the poorest nations with unsustainable debt, the uk is driving fundamental reform of development finance, including a capital increase for the world bank. while some talk down our record on climate, we are actually a world leader, cutting emissions faster than any other g7 country, and with $2 billion recently announced for the green climate fund, i have delivered biggest single international climate pledge the uk has ever made. we are also a leading donor to global health initiatives, helping vaccinate overi billion children. saving millions and millions of lives. but we bring more to the table than just our funding. we also bring our expertise. right now the world's first ever malaria vaccine is being rolled out across africa, with the second one following soon. it has dramatically cut early child mortality and where were both of those vaccines developed? right here in the uk. we don't talk about it enough but every day britain is out there helping the poorest, the most vulnerable, saving and transforming lives. so i say it again. this is who we are and it should make us all proud. my lord mayor, when conflicts overseas create division at home, it is more important than ever that we preserve the values we hold dear. tolerance, free speech, the rule of law, respect for our history. we will protect all communities from violence and intimidation and prevent people being drawn into radicalisation. in these dangerous times we are notjust defending a better vision of the future against those who would destroy it, we are marshalling our expertise, our people and our alliances, to bring that future into being. we will continue to stand up for what is right. we will stand with our allies and the most vulnerable wherever they may be. we will show that the best are full of conviction and that our values will prevail. thank you. applause so there, the prime minister as expected, laying out the uk's foreign policy plans. and where the uk sits on a world stage, talking about now being a time for moral clarity, talking about the uk support for kyiv and its struggle against russia's invasion, and also touching on that humanitarian support for civilians in gaza amid the war. he said we are hot—headed about what is necessary for our interest and security, but britain's realism has always been its values and this, he said, was a moment for moral clarity. that is the scene in guildhall. let's get some reaction from our diplomatic correspondent james landale who is there listening in. no great surprises there but really the idea was to underline the uk's position on a world stage. he talked about shaping events, not being shaped by them.— about shaping events, not being shaped by them. yes. that is what all rime shaped by them. yes. that is what all prime ministers _ shaped by them. yes. that is what all prime ministers say _ shaped by them. yes. that is what all prime ministers say when - shaped by them. yes. that is what all prime ministers say when they | all prime ministers say when they give speeches like this. they try to place the centrality of the uk at the heart of international affairs. the truth is of course that we don't have as greater influence as prime minister often make out. but the crucial point here was what the prime minister said about the middle east. to clear messages. one, for the long term, he said the uk would support other allies in pushing really hard for a two state solution. that might sound like a completely absurd idea, when there is so much conflict going on, but the idea of having a peaceful israeli and palestinian state living side by side is something that the prime minister made clear, believes that all countries should have is their long—term horizons. in other words, making the clear point that israel's security, ultimately, won't be provided simply by a military operation against hamas, and ultimately, long—term peace and stability in the region will require a political settlement of sorts. the prime minister said he would redouble his and britain's efforts to that end. the other crucial point the prime are made, i think it was the prime are made, i think it was the first time he said that too many civilians are losing their lives in gaza. the american said that a few days ago. antony blinken, the us secretary of state. he hasn't gone as far as the french and calling for as far as the french and calling for a ceasefire yet. the british haven't done that. but i think that is the first time i have had the british prime ministers say that too many civilians are losing their lives. he said that israel has an absolute right to defend itself but he also made clear, and i'm quoting, he said that israel had to act within its national law, it had to take all measures to protect innocent civilians, it had to stop extremist violence in the west bank, and it also had to allow more aid into gaza. the prime minister being very, very explicit about what he now expects israel to do in its conduct of its military operation in gaza. and that will also be top of the inbox when it. the new foreign secretary, the new lord cameron. yes. that is going to be fascinating to see how david cameron plays the whole issue. clearly he is not going to vary from the british line, but remember, david cameron has huge relationships with the leaders in the region of the middle east. he has very close links with israel, one israeli newspaper once described him as the most pro—israel british prime minister ever. at the same time, when he was prime minister, david cameron was prepared to be candid and cautious. i think the interesting question is to see how much caution and restraint he urges on israel in the coming days when he takes up his role.— takes up his role. james, good to have ou takes up his role. james, good to have you there. _ takes up his role. james, good to have you there. thank _ takes up his role. james, good to have you there. thank you - takes up his role. james, good to have you there. thank you for. takes up his role. james, good to l have you there. thank you for that. that is our diplomatic correspondence, james landale joining us live from london's guildhall. iwill joining us live from london's guildhall. i will back the headlines we very shortly and our panel on the context. see you very soon. hello there. good evening. well, storm debi brought strong, gusty winds, heavy downpours of rain and some large waves across the north—west of the uk earlier on today. here's the isle of man as recorded by one of our weather watchers. gusts of wind here in ronaldsway, recorded at 68mph, but those wind gusts were even stronger still across parts of north—west england, northern ireland and north wales — 77mph recorded in aberdaron. you can see storm debi really quite nicely with a curl of cloud here on the satellite picture as the storm worked its way further eastwards. it's rattling along quite quickly, clearing out into the north sea overnight tonight. you can see that on the pressure chart quite nicely. it's still blustery towards the south with the tightness of the isobars, but the winds have eased down further north. but still some showers moving in to eastern scotland. more showers moving across northern ireland, wales, north—west england and some heavy thundery downpours approaching south—west england as we head towards the end of the night. there could be a rumble or two of thunder on these. but it's a mild, frost—free start to the day pretty much across the board. lows between five and ii or 12 degrees celsius. staying windy in the south tomorrow morning. this line of heavy, thundery downpours works its way further eastwards through the morning to coincide with the morning rush hour. some heavy downpours of rain, some showers too across wales and northern ireland, but it will tend to brighten up from the west as we head through the course of the afternoon. the showers across scotland again pushing further eastwards with the centre of that low pressure. in the colder air across northern scotland, some of those showers could turn out to be a bit wintry. a drop in temperature across the board, so we're losing a couple of degrees from where we were earlier on today. the area of low pressure again pulls out into the north sea as we head through tuesday night and into wednesday. still some rain across south—west scotland. in fact, that rain will stretch down as far as perhaps north—east england as we head through the day on wednesday, but brightening up for many northern areas of scotland, across caithness and sutherland, also aberdeenshire through the afternoon. to the south of that band of rain, again, some more sunshine for northern ireland, wales and england. another drop in temperature. the winds will also lighten in the south as we head towards the end of the day. in the cooler—feeling air and with the lighter winds there could be a touch of frost perhaps in the south as we head into thursday morning. thursday, a lot of dry weather around towards the south, but raining again towards the north. the air will turn milder on friday into the weekend. bye— bye. hello, i'm christian fraser. you're watching the context on bbc news. and i'm a bit tired, but i don't think i've had a funny turn. but let me just tell you what's just happened. david cameron hasjust walked up the street and gone into 10 downing street. i think, i don't know, but i think that means he's going to be the new foreign secretary. i will do everything to strengthen our alliances, to work with our friends, to build those vital partnerships to make sure our country is secure and prosperous in a difficult and dangerous world. that work starts now and i've got to get on with it. we're absolutely committed to - stopping the boats, as we promised, we delivered one of the most significant _ we delivered one of the most significant years— we delivered one of the most significant years i— we delivered one of the most significant years i know - we delivered one of the most significant years i know he . we delivered one of the mosti significant years i know he will bring — significant years i know he will bring the — significant years i know he will bring the same _ significant years i know he will bring the same vigour- significant years i know he will bring the same vigour to - significant years i know he will bring the same vigour to the l significant years i know he will - bring the same vigour to the equally